Poll: Greatest Husky of All Time

[Mr. French]

Not even close. Emeka was the best player in college ball. Bazz was/is awesome. Mek dominated college basketball. He was the best player on the best team that destroyed and humiliated the rest of college basketball. On par with Gordon but not Mek.

He was the best player ... except he wasn't because Jameer Nelson beat him out in most NPOY awards. Shabazz was probably the 2nd best player in the country to Doug McDermott. You could argue, as Calhoun did with Kemba, that regardless of "best" Shabazz was the most important player to his team in the nation. Then add in his first 3 years and another chip, a conference POY, etc.

The 2004 team was the best team in the country, but they didn't destroy and humiliate the rest of the country, really until the NCAA. Emeka wasn't even playing when they won the Big East tournament, that was ALL Gentle Ben.

It's much, much closer than you're claiming. Shabazz has a resume that rivals ANYONE that's ever played for UConn. Again, the question isn't "who would you pick in a game of 5 on 5" or even "who was the most dominant at their peak" but rather "who is the greatest Husky, encompassing EVERYTHING they stand for. Shabazz is actually UNDERRATED in this poll.

Edit: I mean underrated by many of the people here ... his votes are about where they should be, IMO. But people either agree with the truth or they're knocking him. I don't get that. People are already forgetting how good the most recent guy was? Maybe that's why, distance makes the heart grow fonder.

 

[Mr. French]

If we're talking someone that represents UCONN, we need to consider Rudy Gay.
1. 2005 co-rookie of the year. Big East
2. National rookie of the year. Sporting News 2005
3. First team All America 2006
4. Huskies Ring of Honor
5. #8 pick in the 2006 NBA draft
6. Still active in the NBA (season 14)
7. This car!!

Disagree with the sentiment but always LOVED Rudy, the way he reps UConn, and damn that car is perfect with the best Husky logo!

 

[8893]

I realize that this is debatable, too, but if you look at the respective NC rosters--including the experience of the players on the rosters--I think Kemba had to carry the most on his back in getting us there.

The 2004 team clearly had the most talent and experience of our four NC teams. 1999 would probably be next, followed by 2014 and then 2011.

 

[nadav]

BS the sniper isn’t a choice

 

[HuskyHawk]

I realize that this is debatable, too, but if you look at the respective NC rosters--including the experience of the players on the rosters--I think Kemba had to carry the most on his back in getting us there.

The 2004 team clearly had the most talent and experience of our four NC teams. 1999 would probably be next, followed by 2014 and then 2011.

Nah. 2011 would beat 2014. I just don’t think 2014 was really all that good. They had a lot of good fortune on that run.

 

[8893]

Nah. 2011 would beat 2014. I just don’t think 2014 was really all that good. They had a lot of good fortune on that run.

Agree and disagree. I think 2011 wins because of Kemba, but I think the overall mean level of talent and experience on the 2014 team was higher than 2011.

Neils was a senior in 2014 and had an unbelievably great tournament. He, Bazz and Tyler had already played on another NC team in 2011. Deandre and Bazz were juniors and were really well seasoned.

 

[BigErnMcCracken]

Agree and disagree. I think 2011 wins because of Kemba, but I think the overall mean level of talent and experience on the 2014 team was higher than 2011.

Neils was a senior in 2014 and had an unbelievably great tournament. He, Bazz and Tyler had already played on another NC team in 2011. Deandre and Bazz were juniors and were really well seasoned.

Also, 2014 didn't get lucky. Huge play by Brimah to get past St. Joes, but they manhandled the team that most people thought was the best overall (Florida) and took out MSU, a game Iowa State team, Kentucky, and Villanova. They ran a gauntlet.

 

[XLCenterFan]

Great poll. Glad you got everyone's name right.

Like I said in that other thread - just hand that bracket challenge to Kemba. It's not even a question IMO.

 

[Bonesbrigade]

I'm surprised Caron didn't make the list.

RIP
Ray
Okafor
Kemba
Donyell
Chris Smith

 

[StllH8L8ner]

Interesting that Thabeet was the #2 pick in the NBA draft, yet never mentioned as a great.

I was hoping for the best for him but deep down I knew that while he did improve significantly through three years at UConn, he would get pushed around in the pros and would need to get ALOT better to consistently produce anything worthy of a #2 pick.

 

[TheChamps990411]

Men's basketball players only considered.

I included all the #1 and #2 seeds from the brackets and listed them in alphabetical order. I was very close to adding Khalid as my personal favorite, but that would have been biased and opened the door to all the #3 seeds, which I don't think is realistic for the GOAT, no matter how you characterize it.

Obviously this is not just stats. Not just championships. Not just college and not just NBA. Not just on the court but off the court, too; i.e., who do you think is the greatest Husky of all-time? All things considered, who do you think is the single greatest representative of all the things you think it means to be a Husky?

You cannot change your vote.

You can only view the results after voting.

Poll will close in seven days.

I cant believe Kemba is ahead of Ray. Sure if we are talking only college its Kemba but this is about totality of the player and I think its Ray and at this point its not even close. I think his two NBA titles trumps Kemba 1 national championship and of course points, all star appearances etc. are just ahead of Kemba. Hes also rated the 54th best player of all time lol!

 

[TheChamps990411]

Interesting that Thabeet was the #2 pick in the NBA draft, yet never mentioned as a great.

I was hoping for the best for him but deep down I knew that while he did improve significantly through three years at UConn, he would get pushed around in the pros and would need to get ALOT better to consistently produce anything worthy of a #2 pick.

I couldn't believe he went #2 in the draft. I remember I literally chuckled when they announced the pick. A great kid but watching him for 3 years it was clear to see that at best he`d be a role guy off the bench but he couldnt even do that.

 

[8893]

I'm surprised Caron didn't make the list.

Interesting that Thabeet was the #2 pick in the NBA draft, yet never mentioned as a great.

I was hoping for the best for him but deep down I knew that while he did improve significantly through three years at UConn, he would get pushed around in the pros and would need to get ALOT better to consistently produce anything worthy of a #2 pick.

Khalid, Caron, Thabeet and Tony Hanson were all #3 seeds in that GOAT bracket. I debated whether to expand the poll to 12 choices and include them, especially since Khalid is my favorite, but I decided that it wouldn't ultimately help select the one "greatest Husky." Ben is the only one of the eight I would have considered subbing out, but again I didn't want to inject my bias so I stuck with the seeds from the brackets.

 

[UCSouth]

If it wasn't for all of the gender bias on the board, how could it not be Breanna Stewart? 4 years, 4 NC .......

 

[mauconnfan]

If it wasn't for all of the gender bias on the board, how could it not be Breanna Stewart? 4 years, 4 NC .......

Pretty simple. She didn't play against the same competition or even close as any of them men listed. And the men listed didn't play with 3-4 other McD AA's on the same team.

Other than that I see your point.

 

[8893]

I cant believe Kemba is ahead of Ray. Sure if we are talking only college its Kemba but this is about totality of the player and I think its Ray and at this point its not even close. I think his two NBA titles trumps Kemba 1 national championship and of course points, all star appearances etc. are just ahead of Kemba. Hes also rated the 54th best player of all time lol!

I believe it's about the totality of the person, with an emphasis on their mark on and representation of the men's basketball program and what each of us thinks it means to be a Husky. As I said, NBA matters, but it is up to each of us how much. I think for most here, college matters more. As do National Championships.

If it wasn't for all of the gender bias on the board, how could it not be Breanna Stewart? 4 years, 4 NC .......

Wrong board:

Men's basketball players only considered.

 

[BlueMAB]

If it wasn't for all of the gender bias on the board, how could it not be Breanna Stewart? 4 years, 4 NC .......

Or, people read the OP and saw that only men's players were being considered.

Also, Diana Taurasi says Hi.

 

[UCSouth]

Or, people read the OP and saw that only men's players were being considered.

Also, Diana Taurasi says Hi.

Then perhaps the OP should have been worded differently. Last time I checked, their uniforms had UCONN across the front. Now that you mention it, why wasn't Diana on the list?

 

[CL82]

Lol, it's hard enough to compare the guys between eras and you want to add in the women too? The woman's board has these threads as well. There's some tough competition between, Taurasi, Stewart, Bird, and Moore. Lobo gets some love for starting it all and for being a great representative of the university.

FWIW, Sue Bird is having some great instagram chat with friends and players. Geno just started one up as well. His chat with Taurasi is hysterical in places and interesting in others. The first 5 minutes is Geno staring at the screen before he realizes he has to click on Taurasi to invite her.

 

[HU5KIES]

Then perhaps the OP should have been worded differently. Last time I checked, their uniforms had UCONN across the front. Now that you mention it, why wasn't Diana on the list?

this was a poll posted specifically on the Men's board that explicitly states only men's basketball players are considered in this poll. How is this even being talked about

I swear people will try to pick an argument with anything..

 

[8893]

Then perhaps the OP should have been worded differently. Last time I checked, their uniforms had UCONN across the front. Now that you mention it, why wasn't Diana on the list?

Wrong. Board.

Start your own poll if you want. That's what I did when I didn't like the GOAT brackets method.

 

[UCSouth]

this was a poll posted specifically on the Men's board that explicitly states only men's basketball players are considered in this poll. How is this even being talked about

I swear people will try to pick an argument with anything..

How come some posters on here get a pass on their replies and others get blasted by thin skinned people. Kind of makes it easy to pick out the intelligent folks on here because they are sitting at their computer or smart phone shaking their heads or laughing at the idiots we are. I suggest a tanning bed, supposedly will turn your skin to leather.

 

[8893]

How come some posters on here get a pass on their replies and others get blasted by thin skinned people. Kind of makes it easy to pick out the intelligent folks on here because they are sitting at their computer or smart phone shaking their heads or laughing at the idiots we are. I suggest a tanning bed, supposedly will turn your skin to leather.

Because your replies have no proper purpose here.

 

[BlueMAB]

How come some posters on here get a pass on their replies and others get blasted by thin skinned people. Kind of makes it easy to pick out the intelligent folks on here because they are sitting at their computer or smart phone shaking their heads or laughing at the idiots we are. I suggest a tanning bed, supposedly will turn your skin to leather.

Speaking of thin-skinned, you're on here complaining that women aren't included, accusing virtually every poster of sexism, all because you failed to read the context of the poll.

You've been told multiple times the focus of this poll is the Men's program, yet you choose to be offended and complain at the exclusion of women because of your extremely thick skin??

Diana wasn't included because this poll is for the men. Go create your own poll with or without the men.

 

[BlueMAB]

Then perhaps the OP should have been worded differently. Last time I checked, their uniforms had UCONN across the front. Now that you mention it, why wasn't Diana on the list?

When you're done questioning people's intelligence, can you help us understand what part of this opening sentence of the original post is confusing for you?

Men's basketball players only considered.

 

[JimHurley]

Then perhaps the OP should have been worded differently. Last time I checked, their uniforms had UCONN across the front. Now that you mention it, why wasn't Diana on the list?

Um, this is the “UConn Men’s Basketball” board. You won’t find a single person on this site hating on Taurasi or Stewart. This doesn’t have a single thing to do with sexism.

 

[Jbirdp5]

Then perhaps the OP should have been worded differently. Last time I checked, their uniforms had UCONN across the front. Now that you mention it, why wasn't Diana on the list?

Dude this is the men’s basketball board, I think your trying to dig a little too deep

 

[UCSouth]

When you're done questioning people's intelligence, can you help us understand what part of this opening sentence of the original post is confusing for you?

Go back to the poll and then reply to me. Not post #1, the poll.

 

[BlueMAB]

Then perhaps the OP should have been worded differently. Last time I checked, their uniforms had UCONN across the front. Now that you mention it, why wasn't Diana on the list?

Go back to the poll and then reply to me. Not post #1, the poll.

OP=Original Post

The OP was worded just fine.

The OP accompanies the poll and clearly explains the guidelines/context. If you were too lazy to read it, that's on you.

When you're done virtue signaling, maybe try to contribute something meaningful to the thread.

 

[UCSouth]

Because your replies have no proper purpose here.

I've read literally thousands of your replies to various subjects on the board. I do not reply when I take issue with some of them. Just glad that I'm worth the effort you're putting into this.